KCR’s Telangana Model of Governance : Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

 KCR’s Telangana Model of Governance

Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

The Pioneer (31-05-2022)

Telangana, the youngest State of India has achieved all round and inclusive growth within a short period eight years.  The state commenced its arduous journey to prosperity against the backdrop of all odds. Soon after the formation of Telangana, fulfilling the aspirations of people, which remained unattended to in the combined State, was a major challenge before the new Government. Without losing time brooding over the past neglect, the Government under the dynamic leadership of CM K Chandrashekhar Rao got into the action mode with a number of first of its kind unique innovative programs to usher in ‘Bangaru Telangana’.   

Telangana has earned the unique distinction of defining, designing and delivering as also successfully implementing many first-of-its kind developmental and welfare programs in such a shortest period of time.  To dwell on some of these important trailblazing initiatives taken by the KCR Government which made Telangana model a role model for India is a matter of astonishment for the rest of the country. Now the entire country looking at Telangana to replicate developmental and welfare schemes.   

Leading and the newest scheme is Dalit Bandhu. Recognising the imperative to improve the lot of Dalits and moved by their plight, Chief Minister KCR came up with an unparallel innovative and revolutionary Dalit Bandhu Scheme. This is not a mere scheme but an effective policy to empower the Dalits, with an objective to extend free financial assistance of Rs.10 lakh to each Dalit family in the State in a phased manner. The intention is to enable the Dalits to start their own enterprises and empower them on a permanent basis. It is one of the biggest cash transfer schemes in the country and will herald a sea change in the upliftment of Dalits.

In the erstwhile combined State, agriculture sector was a proverbial gamble in monsoon. With the neglect of irrigation sector and frequent droughts, farmers’ suicides were one of the highest in the country. The situation dramatically changed after the formation of the State. With development of irrigation facilities and 24x7 uninterrupted free power supply, agriculture sector in the State made rapid strides.

Government is incentivising farmers to go for alternate crops to maximise their incomes. Telangana has emerged as the seed bowl of the country. Rythu Bandhu Samithis have been formed in the State to bring the farmers onto an organised platform and to create awareness among them to link crop production to demand.

To improve the economic conditions of the poor people dependent on allied sectors, the Government is distributing sheep at 75% subsidy to the Golla kurumas community.  As a result of this measure, the meat production increased to a record level. With the development of water resources and the proactive policies of the Government including assistance to fishermen and distribution of fish seedlings to beneficiaries, fish production increased enormously.

Apart from these, yet another major programme known as Rythu Bandhu, an investment support for agriculture of Rs.5,000 per acre per season totalling Rs 10000 per acre is being extended without any ceiling on the land holdings benefitting nearly 60 lakh farmers. For providing financial security to the farmers’ families in the unfortunate event of death of a farmer, government has introduced Rythu Bhima scheme under which, an amount of Rs.5 lakh is being paid to the family of the deceased. The entire premium for the insurance coverage is being paid by the Government without any contribution from the farmer.

To alleviate the hardships of the farmers, Government took up Kaleshwaram Project, the world’s largest multi-stage lift irrigation project. In addition, the Government adopted strategy of completing all pending projects and taking up a number of new projects. Under Mission Kakatiya, the Government has taken up and completed renovation of minor irrigation tanks in a phased manner.

Telangana is the first in the country to have conceived Mission Bhagiratha to provide protected and safe drinking water to every household in all the habitations in the State.  Mission Bhagiratha has been completed within a record period and today cent percent households are getting the benefit of this.  This Mission has once and for all put an end to all water borne diseases in the State. 

     

Telangana which was facing acute power crisis at the time of formation affecting the operations of both industrial and agricultural sectors, was able to overcome the problem within six months of KCR assuming office and ensure 24x7 uninterrupted quality power to the consumers and free power to the farmers.  The installed capacity is more than doubled.

Telangana has become the role model by launching the most investor friendly industrial policy TS-I PASS facilitating approvals for industries in a time bound manner based on self-declarations. This resulted in large scale investments providing employment to lakhs of persons. The pharma city and the textile park are the other major initiatives, which will make Telangana one of the major industrial hubs in the country. Hyderabad, the capital city of Telangana, has emerged as a major centre for the IT sector. Some of the multi-national companies have expanded their activities significantly.

In its journey towards faster and inclusive growth, the Telangana crossed a number of milestones. By the yard stick of number of innovative welfare schemes like Aasara Pensions, Kalyan Laxmi, Shadi Mubarak, KCR kits, Brahmin welfare etc and scale of assistance, there is no parallel to the State. The State received a number of awards from the national as well as international organizations. The State is not resting on these laurels. These rewards and awards have further strengthened Government’s resolve to achieve the ultimate goal of Bangaru Telangana within the shortest possible time.

State’s GSDP growth has consistently been higher than the national GDP growth since 2015-16 and the gap has been widening. Despite the adverse impact of Covid-19 pandemic, Telangana ducked the declining growth in most of the States and the country by clocking a positive GSDP growth as compared with the negative growth in the national GDP. The fact that Telangana withstood the havoc of the pandemic is a testimony to the strong foundations laid since the formation of the State for sustained and resilient economy. The contribution of Telangana to country’s GDP improved considerably.

The growth performance of Telangana has been commended by the NITI Aayog. It observed that Telangana is one of the fastest growing States in the country. In terms of growth of per capita income, a very broad measure of economic development and average living standards, Telangana’s performance has been spectacular. The per capita income of Telangana is higher than the national per capita income.

It is by no means a small achievement for a State which is formed only eight years ago, to rebuild itself, revive, bounce back and achieve majority of its aims and objectives. All this is possible due to the dynamic leadership of CM KCR, his administrative skills, his visionary leadership and his innovative thinking. As a strong leader who led the separate Telangana statehood movement despite all odds, obstacles and difficulties, he knew the problems, issues and strengths of the Telangana state like back of his palm. Hence, from the day one he assumed charge as the CM, he solved each and every problem and laid a blue print for the Telangana state’s progress and development. And that is KCR!